Tube recutter



June 22, 1965 J. sNYDx-:RMAN

TUBE RECUTTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. Y l1, 1964 v.. u. B nw ,Www xww mw M -l. um 11.. JU mm. I x l. N. I .i All uw mmmi l @G no. L ww. l ISF k l S l 5 ll .mm NN i S 9S m (S .w owl N mh June 22, 1965 .1. sNYDERMAN 3,190,158

TUBE RECUTTER Filed Feb. 11, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' FIG. 2

2'7 INV EN TOR.

N JOSEPH SNYDERMAN ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 J. sNYDERMAN 3,190,158

' TUBE RECUTTER Filed Feb. ll, 1964 5 Sl'leelZS--Sheel'l 5 IIII- W- INVENTOR JOSEPH s/vyofm/AA/ ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 J. sNYDERMAN v 3,190,158

TUBE RECUTTER Filed Feb. 1l, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 N VEN TOR. JSE'PH SI1/70E HMA /V ATTORNEY June 22, 1965 lJ. SNYDERMAN 3,190,158

TUBE RECUTTER Filed Feb. ll, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

JSEPH SIVYDERM/V ATTORNEY United. States Patent 3,190,158 TUBE RECUTTER Joseph Snyderman, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to John -Eppler Machine Works, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 11,1964, Ser. No. 343,996 19 Claims. (Cl. 82 101) 'I'his invention relates to tube recutter. It has heretofore been proposed to provide machines for cutting a long tube of paper or the like with a printed exterior surface into a plurality of shorter 'tubes each of which is to serve as the side wall of a receptacle or container.

i Various diiculties have been encountered with the tube recutters heretofore proposed.V Among these were -difficulties in positioning the tube for cutting so as to `have the cuts made at the exact'locations desired and slow speed of operation.

length, which has a plurality of tube cutting mandrels to Vwhich tubes to be cutV are successively supplied, the mandrelon which the cutting is being effected being supported in an improved manner at the end at which supplying of the tube to be cut is effected. y Y

. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tube recutter for registering and'then severing a Alength of tube into aV plurality of short lengths of tube of predetermined precise length which has a plurality of tube cutting mandrels to which tubes to be cut are supplied and in which simple but effective driving means is provided for rotating the mandrel on which the cutting is effected. Y y

1 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tube recutter having a mandrel for supporting the tube to be cut together with mandrel end supporting and tube positioning structure for registry which is controlled in part by the tube applied for cutting.

It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide a tube recutter `having improved tube positioning which has a cam for approximate positioning and a detector for effecting close and precise positioning of the tube for registry during recutting.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tube recutter which has a plurality of mandrels for successively receivinga tube to be recut, advancing to a cutting location, and advancing to a discharge location, the mandrels being carriedat one end on a turret head, together with provisions for locking the head against movement for and during cutting.

Other objects and advantageous features of the in vention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, -in which: y

`FIGURE. 1 is a side elevational view of a tube recutter in accordance with the present invention;

. FIG. 1A is a view in perspective of a portion of a tube Ato be recut on the tube recutter of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational View, enlarged, as seen from the location ofthe line 2 2 of FIG. l, parts being broken away to show the details of construction;

FIG. 3 is 'a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional ICC view, taken approximately on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary trnasverse vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view in elevation of the turret locking cam; v FIG. 6 is-a view in elevation of the knife control cam; FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the line 7 7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal horizontal sectional view, taken approximately on the line 8 8 of FIG.V 7; Y

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical Vsectional view taken approximately on the line 9 9 of FIG. 7; FIG. l0 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 10 10 ,of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 11p-11 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view; taken approximately on the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed'without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The tube recutter in accordance with thepinvention has a plurality of horizontal mandrels carried by a turret and advanced in a step by step relation. One of the mandrels is positioned to have a tube to be cut applied thereon, another mandrel supports the tube for advance Vof the knives toward it for cutting, and anotherrmandrel has the cut or severed tubes stripped therefrom.

As the mandrel on which the tube for cutting moves to a predetermined position, the turret is locked against further movement and a support is applied at the. other end of that mandrel which also positions the tube to be cut for registry'as determined by a detector at the opposite end of the tube to be cut.

The cutting of the'tube is effected bythe cutter knives Y which are held by a controlled force, `with accurate registry and with a Yminimum of waste.

vReferring `now to FIG. 1A of the drawings, a tube T (is shown, which customarily is a spiral wound paper tube having onthe exterior 15 thereof a label or cover layer upon which are printed successive repeats of the desired exterior of the container which is completed when the ends have been applied to the cut lengths t of the tube T.

The tube T can be a convolute tube or any other type of .of excess length or take up for shortening, as required,

while maintaining a precise length of severed tube. The cutting locations on the tube t are indicated atlS.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. Y1 to l2,

inclusive, of the drawings, the tube recutter includes a frame FphavingY horizontal longitudinal frameY sections V2i) and 21'and transverse vertical frame sections 22, 23 and 24.

The driving, control and cutting mechanism is mounted Y between the locations of the frame sections 22 and 23, the tube supplying and tube applying mechanism being mounted between the locations of the frame sections 23 and 24.

The frame section 22 has a lower housing section 26 with a lower platform 27 on which a first electric motor e t YV Y 3,190,158v Y M1, is mounted with aivariable speednreducer 28`drive'n thereby. The speed reducer; 28, through pulleys 29 driven f thereby drives belts 30 which engage pulleys 31 on the input shaft of a variable speed reducer 32. The speed ureducer 32 has one output shaft 33`With a sprocket 34 thereon which through a chain 35 thereon drives a sprocket V36 on a drive shaft 37. Thedrive shaft 37 is jourrnaledV "in a vertical frame plate Y38 in an upper main housing sec-V head 93'hasspaced turretY'plates/94 secured together andV carrying spaced bearings 95 for the reception of horizonl tal mandrels 96, three being shown. Each of the mandrelsV 9,6, between the plates 94 has a mandrel driving pulley 97 thereon. e Y. Y Y l ,Y

The upper, main housing section39 has a second elec-,

tricmotor M2 carriedv thereon with'its output shaft 100 YhavingY a pulley 191 thereon connectedby a belt V102` to a driven pulley'103 supported 0n a bearing 104 on a stub The shaft 37 has secured thereto for movementtherewith a turret lock cam (see FIG. 5)` anda knife control cam 51 (see FIG. 6), and extends to the frame section 23 where it is'journaled. The shaft 37, at the :frame Vsection 23 Vhas a mandrel support control cam 52 mounted thereon and driven thereby. Y ,Y Y

The speed reducer 32lhas an additional output shaft 55 Y Ywhich through bevel gears 56 drives a shaft 57 having a `sprocket 5Sy thereon.

gears59 drives a shart60 which extends to the other end4 The shaft 557 also through bevel of the frame for driving a tube feeder TF Y The'sprocket S3, through a chain 61 drives a sprocket" Y Y62 on a shaft es, Y The shaft se is journaied inahracker V64 on the frame section 21. The shaft 63 has sprocket'65 thereonwith aV chain 66 Vcarried thereon which is also car-V riedV on'a sprocket 67. The sprocket 67 is mountedV onY a shaft V68 journaledina bracket `69 Von theframe sec-V tion21. Y Y

The shaft 68 has a sprocket 70 secured thereto with a chain 71 engaged therewith, extendingover anidler 72 i and engaged with a sprocket 73 on a shaft 74.

The shaft 74 is'journaled in a bracket '75 -carried on the y kframe section 21 kand drives afsprocket 76 on which a tube feed chain 77 is mounted. Y -The chain Y77 is carriedon a,Y

sprocket 78 mounted on a shaftl 79 which'is journaled in `a bracket80 on the frame section 21. Y-

VBetween the Aframe sections 23 and24 feed head guideV i rods $2-are provided which carry a horizontally reipro-l cablefeed head carriage -83 having vertical guides for a vertically reciprocable slide 84 uponvvhich aftube feed` head 85 is secured. TheV slide 84 is connected to a link Lof the chain 77 vto move it'along anpuppertube applying path tothe left (FIG. 1) then down around the sprocket Y 76,?then along a lower clearance path to the right, ,then up Varound the sprocket 78 for another circuit. The-tube Vfeed head 85 thus, upon movement to the left, pushes a tube to be cut onto a waitingamandrel, as hereinafterY pointed out, then `moves out of the Way and` returns toV shaft 105. The stub shaft Y is carried on the frame plate 92. The driven pulley 103 .has secured thereto a Y driving pulley 106,011 aYbearing 107 on thestub shaft 105. The driving pulley ltrpr'eferably has a rim Y106z of rubber vory other resilient material fordriving engagement WithV one of the mandrel driving pulleys 97`which is moved` into its path. Y Y y Y A Vturret lock shaft 108 carried bythe frame lplates 38 and 92, and has a cam follower arm 109 with a carnY follower roller 110 secured thereto for engagement with the turret lockfcarn 59; YT hezcarn 50, as shown on FIG. 6 has a'dwell portion 1'11 for ,retraction followed Vby a shortY move to engaging portion' 112,'then a holding dwell portion 113, followed byshort disengaging portion '114, with the cycle then repeating. I

ably secured thereto with a slidable lock pin 116, carried in a slide guide 117 on the end thereof withone of the VA knife control shaft 119Y is provided carried by Vthe frame' plates V33 and 92 and by the frame section 23 and has a cam follower arm 120 with a cam follower'roller 121 'secured thereto vfor engagement Withla knife ;con Y trol cam;51.Y The cam'j51'as shown in FIG; 7 has a retraction portion v122,.follc wed by an advance'toward:Y cutting dwell portion 12,3, followed Yby a short advance` to cutting portion 1274followed by a cutting dwell'portion. VV125,.with the cycle then repeating; 1 Y f The knife controlvshaft 120`has a pluralityY of adjustfi ableclamps 1 26 secured thereto with a knife mounting "bar `127 held by bolts 12SVV extending through elongated 'slots'129 for adjustment. The knifemounting bar 127 has. .clamped thereon( at theV desired" spaced Vlocations by clamps 130, blade carrying frames 131V.Y The frames Y131 'have Vpivotally mounted therein on pivot pins` 132 blade Vcarriers 133 withV rotary cutter blades 134`thereinzon blade shafts135.` For severing the` accommodation band '17, a plurality of blades 134,',with their cutting edges spaced as desired, are employed. The carriers; 133 ,are

.normally retracted lby'internal springs (not shown), in

Y eylindersf136;` The 4cylinders 136 have pivotal connec- Y `the cutter blades y134 to cutting positions, the air Vpressure determining the force of application.'` A .manifoldV 'i (not shown) to which the connections 139`are connected 23 stripper head guide rodsV S7 are provided which carry Y a horizontally reciprocable stripper head carriage 88 hav-v ;ing vertical guides for a vertically reciprocableslideYS9 ,i

Yupon which a tube stripper head 90 is secured. The slide S9 is connected `to alinkV ofthe chain v66 to `move itin along an upper cut tubestripping path to the right (FIG.

l) then down around the sprocket 67, thenalong arlower l clearance path to the left, then up around theV sprocket 65 Y e carried on slide rods 147,` The. slide head Y146V has kslied-` Yably carried thereona mandrel engaging vandfsupporting for anothercircuit.Y Thetube Vstripper head 90 thusrup'on movement to the right, pushes a group of cut tubes trfrom out `.of the way andreturns to push another` group of cut tubes as before. l

Y70 -a mandrel, as hereinafter pointed out, and then Vmoves.'k

. The turret drive shaft .47 is journaled ina vertical-frame plate V92 and has a turret head 93 keyed thereon. f The "is connected to a` suitable source` of air undervpressure having a pressure Vregulator 140 connected thereto.

The'mandrel support control cam 52Vv (see FIG.9) has` Y aretract dwell portion vr1472, and a mandrel support dwell portion 143 lwith connectinggportions1144 therebetween only one of which isfshown of FIG. 9. The cam `52 has a .cam follower roller 145 engaged' therewith,.the roller 145 being mounted onamandrel support slide head146 kplug 148 Vwhich is Yreceivedv Yin a complementary opening 1149 in the `free end of each mandrel `96 when the; same is 'in.alignmenttherewith The.y plug 148 is mountedon al piston rod 150 and has movable therewith a tube Aposihoning sleeve'lSl.Y The piston rod 150 extendsintoan air cylinder 152 to Whichsrupp'lyanderihaust,connections` 153 and 154 extendto oppositensides of a piston [15S in The turret lock shaft 108 has alock arrnf115. adjust-` the cylinder 152 which actuates the piston rod 150. The connections 153 and 154 extend to a solenoid operated supply and rexhaust valve mechanism156. The valve 156 has an exhaust vent 157 to atmosphere and a supply connection 1 58 to the pressurerregulator 140.

`The valve 156 is controlled by a photoelectric or light sensitive cell |160 carried by the frame `section -22 and responsible to the detector iband 16p-for retracting the sleeve 151 so that `it doesnot after vretraction further advance the tube T to be cut toward theopposite end of the mandrel96. This retraction and consequent discontinuance of advance of the tube T which advance was initiated by movement of the plug 148 and sleeve 151 jcontrols the register of the tube T to bring thevcutting locations 18 of the tube T to the locations of thefrotary cutter blades 134. The slide head 146 has a-cam-162 carried thereby for actuating a limit switch 163 which effects resetting of the valve 156 and return of the sleeve 1517to its advanced position ready Vto meet Vthe oncoming Vtube T as soon as the slide head 146 is retracted.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

The rotation of the motor M2 is effective through the beltV 102 `for driving the pulley 103, and the pulley 106 Y through its rim 106:11 rotates the uppermost mandrel -96 by its engagement with'the mandrel driving pulley 97. This mandrel 96 will previously have had a tube T applied thereto for cutting. f t t Y The rotation ofthe motorMl is effective through the speed reducer 32 for driving the tube feeders 81 to successfully supply tubes T for cutting.

Rotation of the shaft 33V through the sprocket 34, chain 35 and sprocket 36 rotates the Geneva driver 41 to bring the roller 42 into engagement with the Geneva cam 43. The cam 43 by its intermittent engagement by the roller 42 advances the shaft 44 step by step, the gear 45 driving the gear 46 to actuate the turret drive shaft 47 so that one mandrel 96 is in an upward position for rotation and for engagement of the cutter blades 134, and two mandrels 96 are in lower positions. One of the lower mandrels 96 has a -tube T supplied from the feed table FT pushed thereon by movement, towards the left (FIG. 1) of the tube feederV head 85. The other ofl the lower mandrels 96 has the previously cut tubes t stripped therefrom by movement towards the right (FIG. 1) of the tube stripper head 90.

As previously indicated the tube feeder head Y85 andV the tube stripper head 90, in their return movements are lowered to out of engagement paths of travel.

As the turret drive shaft 47 moves a mandrel 96 with a tube T thereon to its upward position three events oc-Y -displacement to permit tube feeding, cut tube stripping and cutting.

As the turret head 93'is locked the mandrel support control cam 51 advances the slide head 146 to bring the mandrel plug 148 into the end opening 149 of the uppermost mandrel 96. The tube positioning sleeve 151 is advanced with the plug 148 and engages the trailing end of the ltube T and pushes the tube T. As soon as the detector band 16 moves into the line of sight of the photosensitive cell 160 the valve 156 is actuated to supply air under pressure to retract the piston 155. Retraction of the piston 155 moves the sleeve 151 away from the tube T so that the position to which it has been advanced is determined, this providing the desired register for cutting. This retraction of theY sleeve 151 while sufficient to avoid further advance of the tube Tjon the mandrel 96 does not move the plug 148 to an extent to remove the support given the free end of the mandrel 96.

After the tube T has thus been registered the knife control cam 51 .causes the blade mounting bar 127 to advance the blade carrying frames 131 and the blade carriers 133 vtherein so that theY blades 134 engagethe tube T at the cutting locations 18. The blades 134 `are resiliently urged into cutting engagement with the Vtube T by the air cushioning action of the cylinders 136. Upon completion of the time permitted for cutting the cutterl blades are retracted by the action ofthe cam 51, The slide head 146 is retracted to permit movement of the upper -mandrel 96 downwardly to stripping position and thecam` 162 through the switch 163 signals the valve 156 to reset. the sleeve to its advanced position.

The turret lock cam 50 will release the locking pin 116 so that the turret head 93 can be rotated by the -action of the Geneva driver 41 and its cam 42.

The continuous step by step supplyingcutting and strippingis repeated in rapid sequence, and with registry of the tubeT for accurate cutting.

The advance of the mandrel support plug 148, and tube positioning sleeve 151 with the greater motion imparted by the cam 52 and with control and retraction by thepiston 155 has been found to be rapid and effective.

I claim; Y

1. In a tube cutting machine having a mandrel rotatably supported at one end, members for feeding a tube to* be cut onto the mandrel from the other end thereof at one 'location, members for advancing the mandrel to another location for tube cutting, and to another location for stripping, the improvement which comprises means including a slidable member for advancing amand-rel support for said other end into engagement with the mandrel and a tube positioning member for moving said tube longitudinally on said mandrel, said means for advancing including an actuator member movable in timed relation to said members for feeding a tube, detector means responsive to the initial position of said tube for controlling said tube positioning member, and members vfor rotating said mandrel lat the location for tube cutting.

2. A tube cutting machine as defined in claim 1 in which said actuating member has a cam for determining at least part of the advancing movement and a fluid pressure operated member for controlling the movement of Y the positioning member.

3. A tube cutting machine as defined in claim 2 in which said detector means eifects retraction of the iiuid pressure operated member. Y

4. A tube cutting machine as dened in claim 1 having positive locking means for retaining the mandrel at at least one of said locations.

5. A tube cutting machine as defined in claim 4 in which the locking means is operated -by the advancing members.

6. A tube cutting machine as dened in claim 4V having cutter members and members for advancing said cutter members into cutting engagement after locking operation of said locking means.

7. In a tube cutting machine having a rotatable turret head, members for moving said turret head through a partial rotation in timed relation, members for positively for advancing a tube to be cut onto said mandrel in timed relation to the movement of said turret head,`members for rotating said mandrel with said turret head in locked position, members for supporting the other end of said mandrel with said turret head in locked position, and members for advancing cutter blades into cutting engage ment with a tube on said mandrel VWith said turret head in locked position, said supporting members having con-v trolling devices advancing and retracting the members for supporting in timed relation prior to and subsequent to the movement of said cutting blades to cutting engagement.

8. A tube cutting machine as defined in claim 7 in which a drive shaft is providedl having cam members for. controlling said turret head'locking members, said mandrel4 Vend supporting members and said cutter blade. advancing members. v Y

9. A tube cutting machine as denedin claim 8in which for Loperating said turret head moving members.

- which saidsrtube positioning memberis movableV with` an additional intermittent cam is connected to said shaft 10. A tube cutting machine as,` defined in vclaim 7 in y which said turret head has an additionalV mandrel, and said members for advancing a tube havegoperating portions for feeding atube to be cut onto said ladditional mandrel during the tubevcutting on'theV -irst mandrel. .l

` v11. A tube cutting machineA as definedY in claim Tin which said' turret head has an additional mandrel, and

members are provided for strippingfrcut tubes previously said mandrel end supporting members.

15. A ,tubeV cuttingrmachne as defined in claim Y7 iu which said members for supporting the other end ofsaid mandrel include a slidable head having a portion for supporting engagement with Vsaid mandrel.` 1

16; A tube cuttingl machine 'as deiined in claim 15 in which said slidable'head has another; portionrfor `tube positioning engagement. Y

17. A` tube cutting machine n which at least said other Vportion hasV any additional posi-V cut with said mandrel at said locked position from said additional mandrel during tube lcutting on theY iirst mandrel.L 1

12.]A tube cutting" machineV as* defined yin claim 7 'ini which said turret head'has at leasttwo additional mann drels, saidlmernbers'fof advancing a tubef to be cut have Y portionsfor. feeding a tube ontoone of said 'additional mandrelsduring the tube cutting operation on the'firrst mandrel, and members are provided for stripping previously severed tubes from another of said additionall mand I drels during the tube cutting onthe first mandrel'.V Y

13. Atube cutting machine as d enedfin claim 7 having a tubeV position detecting member lresponsive tothe yposition ofV a tube on said mandrel and a tube positionf ing member controlled by said detecting member.

14.l A tube cutting machineras defined inrclaim `13 in Y tioning member.

g 18.1 A tube cutting machine as defined inrclaim 7 in` which said members for supporting the other end ofthe f mandrel have aportion movable .therewithN for tube po= sitioning engagement, and` said portion has an additional,

.Y positioningmember. i Y

n 19. `A tube cutting V rna ':hin'eas defined' in claimzlS inV y which resetting means is provided for saidV additional poe `sitioningmeruber controlled by the positioning of' said membersfor supporting the `other end ofthe mandrel.

` References Citedby the xaminrer yUNITED SIL'TIS PATENTS i WILLIAM In., PrimaryExgrnfznerty LEON PEAR, Examiner.

as denied in claim' `16 in' 

1. IN A TUBE CUTTING MACHINE HAVING A MANDREL ROTATABLY SUPPORTED AT ONE END, MEMBERS FOR FEEDING A TUBE TO BE CUT ONTO THE MANDREL FROM THE OTHER END THEREOF AT ONE LOCATION, MEMBERS FOR ADVANCING THE MANDREL TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR TUBE CUTTING, AND TO ANOTHER LOCATION FOR STRIPPING, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES MEANS INCLUDING A SLIDABLE MEMBER FOR ADVANCING A MANDREL SUPPORT FOR SAID OTHER END INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MANDREL AND A TUBE POSITIONING MEMBER FOR MOVING SAID TUBE LONGITUDINALLY ON SAID MANDREL, SAID MEANS FOR ADVANCING INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR MEAMBER MOVABLE IN TIMED RELATION TO SAID MEMBERS FOR FEEDING A TUBE, DETECTOR MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE INITIAL POSITION OF SAID TUBE FOR CONTROLLING SAID TUBE POSITIONING MEMBER, AND MEMBERS FOR ROTATING SAID MANDREL AT THE LOCATION FOR TUBE CUTTING. 